As we finish 10 weeks of Summer Lunch Program we are reminded just how generous this community is. Our faithful volunteers that come out each week and help us bag is amazing. I can't say enough about them. They all show up ready to help in any way they can. It is truly community connected!

THANK YOU!

The Rotary Club of Yelm is bringing their community together to serve a need in feeding children this summer. This will is our 3rd summer of the summer lunch program, nicknamed the “10 Weeks of Summer”.

The target is to reach children who are receiving free and reduced lunches during the school year. When school is out, their need for nourishment continues. So, each week through the summer you will find Rotary members, and other community volunteers, busy packing about 200 bags of food for the kids. Last summer they distributed over 1800 bags and they expect to do even more this year! We have added a distribution point in Rainier this year and it is proving to be popular.

Each Sunday afternoon begins by picking up their load of food from Walmart. Walmart is a great partner in this program and has also awarded a $5000 grant to the club.

The truck then makes the 1 mile trip to the Yelm Senior Center, where the food is unloaded by community volunteers and Rotarians. We couldn't do it without all the community support. This is truly a community project!

An assembly line is formed to bag the food in re-useable grocery bags donated by local business partners. The club has it down to an art and can have all the food unloaded and bagged in less than 2 hours!

Each Tuesday morning the teams pick up the bagged food and head out to meet the kids and parents at their distribution points. We are serving many new families this year as well as those we served last year. The need is there and they are grateful for the extra help

The total estimated cost of the summer program is $20,000. The club was approved for a $3,500 district grant from Rotary International, and The Nisqually Tribe awarded another grant of $5,000. Walmart of Yelm awarded a $5000 grant and provides a discount of the weekly food purchase and helps with the shopping and loading. The remainder of the cost is covered with Club funds and other donations from supportive community members.

This morning we had the honor of announcing our May 2019 Rotary Student of the Month, Sophia Lydon. This talented future UW Husky has spent many hours - close to 300 - in the sports med practicum and consistently excelled in her advanced sports medicine class. She is in the top 10 of her graduating class and will no doubt succeed in her goal of becoming an anesthesiologist. She is also an active member of the community, playing basketball and rugby, and of course volunteering. She has volunteered at the Yelm Food Bank, helped to organize a women's march in Olympia, and completed many other service projects with the YHS Honor Society. We are lucky to call her a Tornado! We thank our business partners Olympia Federal Savings, Walmart Yelm and City of Yelm - Government for helping us honor this deserving senior. #yelmrotary #serviceaboveself #PeopleOfAction

The Rotary Club of Yelm is proud to announce our April Student of the Month, Hannah Jenny. Hannah, another outstanding YHS class of 2019 soon-to-be graduate, embodies all of the best of YHS. Her always upbeat outlook and beaming smile are not only reflective of her attitude towards life, but are contagious and truly make her a stand-out among her peers. Her dedication to school, FFA and her community comes easy to her as she truly enjoys helping others. Portland State University is lucky to have her next year. Thank you to our business partners Walmart Yelm and Olympia Federal Savings and City of Yelm - Government. Hannah will be honored at an upcoming City of Yelm City Council meeting. #serviceaboveself#yelmrotary

We are pleased to announce our March 2019 Student of the Month, Megan Powell. Megan is a senior who is involved in Yearbook and has also been involved in Leadership on campus. Outside of school, Megan spends time at camps for children battling cancer. Megan has attended several camps, most recently as a camp counselor. Megan has a positive attitude and wants to make Yelm High School a safe and welcoming place for all students. Megan's plans after high school include a career in the medical field as a paramedic or trauma trained medic. Megan is currently undecided on attending Central Washington University or enlisting in the Army. Megan will also be honored at the City of Yelm - Government City Council meeting on April 23rd. Our behalf of Rotary Club of Yelm and our business partners Olympia Federal Savings, Walmart Yelm and City of Yelm - Government we congratulate you, Megan! #yelmrotary#serviceaboveself

We are honored to announce our February 2019 Student of the Month, Yitzi Guadalupe Apantipan Cirilo. Yitzi is another outstanding Yelm High School senior. Not only is she a peer group leader at YHS, but she volunteers her time in the community with many different organizations. She aspires to be a nurse, continuing with her goal of helping others! We have no doubt that with her positivity, drive and ambition she will be a great success and represent Yelm well. Joining us are our Business partners Walmart Yelm, Olympia Federal Savings and City of Yelm - Government

We are excited to announce that we have received a grant for our Summer Food Program from the Nisqually Indian Tribe. It is an honor to be a recipient again this year. We appreciate all the support that they give back to our community. Thank you so much!

Congratulations to our January 2019 Student of the Month, Cody Johnston. Cody is the Yelm High School ASB secretary, National Honor Society member, an Eagle Scout and a Varsity Cross-Country member.

Cody is good student (3.8 GPA) who has continues to take challenging classes. Cody has been very involved in school from Athletics (3 sports) to ASB officer as well as the NHS. Outside of school Cody has kept himself busy as well! He recently earned his Eagle Scout designation, completing many hours of service in order to do so. He also volunteers with the local Lions club. In addition he has volunteered at the food bank in Thurston County a few times and was a Page the Washington State House. He also participated in the Evergreen Boys State program. Cody recently received an appointment to the Naval Academy! Huge honor.

It is with great pleasure that we introduce our December 2018 Student of the Month, Erin Connally.

Erin embodies the best of YHS students. She can always be counted on to help with community events such as the blood drive, color run, CPR classes and more all while maintaining a good GPA and taking challenging classes. A varsity athlete herself, Eric has dedicated over 650 hours to athletic training in the prevention and care of injuries for fellow athletes at YHS. She will be attending Centralia Community College next fall where she will continue to study athletic training and play soccer.

The Rotary Club of Yelm is honored to announce our November 2018 Student of the Month, Bekah Hume.

Bekah has her eye clearly on her future and is blazing a path towards it. She is respected by peers and staff alike at YHS where she played varsity soccer for 4 years of and has contributed well over 400 hours in community service just through her sports medicine program alone all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She has already been accepted into Whitworth's 5 year master's track program for sports medicine and is excited to attend next fall.

Addyson Wilson-Heid is an outstanding YHS senior who has made an incredibly positive impact on not only her high school, but her Yelm community as well. She is an excellent student who participates in numerous school activities and community service programs. She has big dreams for after graduation and there's no doubt she will accomplish whatever she sets her mind to and make a big impact on the world around her. Along with the certificate she was presented a gift card from Walmart Yelm and a savings bond from Olympia Federal Savings. She will also be honored on Tuesday, November 13th at the City of Yelm - Government City Council Meeting.

The Rotary Club of Yelm is honored to announce our September 2018 Student of the Month, Britney Alvarez -

Britney is an outstanding Yelm High School senior who embodies many wonderful qualities. While maintaining her own good grades, she is an advocate for others and is a volunteer in a program for helping freshman who are facing challenges. Her kindness and maturity make her an effective advocate for these students. She has applied to be a volunteer at the Yelm Library and hopes to volunteer at a Senior living facility as well. She is an exemplary Yelm citizen. Along with the certificate she was presented a gift card from Wal-mart and a savings bond from Olympia Federal Savings.

Pictured from left to right are YHS principal Ryan Akiyama, Rotarian Larry Hanson, Britney Alvarez, Co-Manager at Yelm Walmart LiAn, Rotary Club of Yelm president Tess Faughn, and Jane Walker with Olympia Federal Savings.

Our annual Summer Food program, 12 weeks of Summer, has begun. Today marks our 3rd weekly distribution. We really appreciate all the volunteers that give of their time to help us with this project. We have received tremendous support from the community including monetary donations, re-useable grocery bags, food, and more. We have several businesses that are hosting PB&J Food Drives (Peanut Butter & Jelly) and we appreciate you all!

We are proud to announce Kaylee Logan as our Student of the Year, 2017-2018. With this honor goes a scholarship to aid in her future education.

Kaylee is an outstanding student in addition to a community service super star. She is a passionate, committed member of FFA. She is talented in writing and winning grants, coordinates a program with our local food bank and the garden, as well as raises animals of her own. Her philanthropic endeavors don’t end there as she has countless community service hours of which she is incredibly proud. Besides her outstanding dedication to community service, the other thing that truly makes Kaylee stand apart is that she is a member of the US Women’s Roller Hockey Team and has traveled internationally to compete in three World Championships. She is extremely proud to represent our country and is working to help make roller hockey an Olympic event. In addition to these amazing activities, she is a member of the Equestrian Team and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. Kaylee is a senior at Yelm High School and looks forward to continuing her education towards a degree in Chemical Engineering.

Congratulations on representing what Rotary is all about, Service Above Self.

The Rotary Club of Yelm​ is honored to announce our Yelm High School​ May 2018 Student of the Month, Matthew Tolar. Drama club President, talented thespian, stage manager and athlete, Matthew Tolar is another shining example of our outstanding YHS seniors. This Rotary student of month will be attending PLU in hopes of studying law and has a very bright future ahead of him. Along with the certificate he was presented a gift card from Walmart Yelm​ and a savings bond from Olympia Federal Savings​.

Matthew will also be honored on Tuesday, June 12th at the City of Yelm - Government​ City Council Meeting.

Rotary Club of Yelm was excited to participate and help sponsor the Lackamas Elementary Kindness Week. Several of our members served root beer floats during lunch to around 300 students. Then we went to the Kindness station and saw how the students were completing their tasks. With a goal of 3000 kind acts this week they will be busy!

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